By Dapo Akinrefon & Ola Ajayi

THE South-west chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, is today heading for the precipice as the leaders of the two major factions in the region hold parallel meetings in Akure and Ijebu-Igbo.

Bode Gorge and Fayose

A former Deputy National Chairman of the PDP, Chief Olabode George, who is among leaders converging in Akure has meanwhile accused Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State and Senator Buruji Kashamu, who are supportive of the zoning of the national chairman to the Northeast of having a hidden agenda against the interest of the Yoruba.

The parallel meeting of leaders supportive of the zoning arrangement is also holding about the same time in Ijebu-Igbo with Senator Kashamu as facilitator. It could not be confirmed yesterday if Governor Ayo Fayose, who is a major ally of Kashamu’s would be attending the meeting.

There’s no zoning—George

Speaking ahead of the meeting in Akure, Chief George, said the decision to zone the chairmanship position negates the constitution of the PDP.

He said: “As far as I am concerned, this is not zoning. The concept of zoning in the party has been between the north and the south. For instance, whatever was in the north, will come to the south and likewise, whatever was in the south, will go to the north. That is the original concept of zoning. There is no zoning, they did not do anything.

We are holding a meeting of South West PDP leaders  tomorrow  (today) and we will come out with a position.”
Lampooning Governor Ayodele Fayose and Senator Buruji’s attempt to cause division within the South West PDP, George said the two party chieftains have a hidden agenda.

He said “Buruji, an unranked Senator is also calling for a meeting at Ijebu-Igbo. God will help our party but indiscipline is the major bane of our party. After the congress, we will issue a communiqué where we will marshal out our action. For me, it is nothing personal but all I want is for us to follow the rules and the constitution of the party.”
In addition, the PDP leader said “the thing there is that, by whatever yardstick, if there is proper zoning by the definition of our party, it means that since the presidency has been zoned to the North, automatically, the chairmanship of the party should come from the South.
“All that Buruji is doing, asking the acting chairman of the party to continue, it means he has an agenda hidden and I don’t want to talk about it. The chairman of the PDP governors called for a meeting so that we can find a solution but he is calling for another meeting.”
“All those betraying the Yoruba hook, line and sinker, God will ask them. It is only the South West that is yet to produce the chairmanship of the party since it was formed and they are championing that it should go to the North East. Buruji can hang on anything because of his background and for Ayo (Fayose), Ekiti people will ask him”, he said.

Nobody above 65’ll assume PDP national chair — Fayose
Meanwhile, Governor Fayose has insisted that anybody above 65 years will not be allowed to assume the national chairmanship position of the PDP during the May 21 national convention of the party.
While restating his earlier stance that the former deputy national chairman of the party, Chief George should allow younger politicians to take the mantle of leadership of the party at the convention, he did not mince words as he emphatically said he would prefer former Governor of Borno State, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff to continue to steer the ship of the party after the convention.
The governor said: “We don’t want people above 65 years to be national chairman of PDP.”
He said this in Ibadan yesterday while delivering a lecture entitled: Journalism and Politics: Two sides of a coin, marking this year’s World Press Freedom Day at the press centre of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Oyo State Council.
Governor Fayose further insisted that his assertions against President Muhammadu Buhari were not meant to denigrate his person, saying he was only displeased with the policies of his government, even as he claimed that the stealing going on in the present administration was worse than what happened in the Goodluck Jonathan era.

The Ekiti governor who said he initiated the move that a candidate should emerge from the South West geo-political zone clarified further that it would not be proper for the zone to produce the national chairman of the party.
According to him, among the party’s chieftains he contacted for the position was Dr. Bode Olajumoke he contacted but he was unwilling.
Governor Fayose further insisted that his assertions against President Muhammadu Buhari were not meant to denigrate his person saying he was only displeased with the policies of his government even as he claimed that the stealing going on in the present administration was worse than what happened in the preceding Goodluck Jonathan era.
He explained that Sheriff might not be the best candidate for the office, but he possesses the good political credentials to assume the office as he had served as governor for two times and senator for three times.